Obrador Wants a Democratic Media Leticia Paula Cruz and Alberto Marquez Diaz - Rumbo de Mexico
go to original April 18, 2012

Andrés Manuel López Obrador says that if he becomes president he will work toward the democratization of the media and encourage the creation of new radio and televison channels. (The News)

The presidential candidate for the Progressive Movement, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said that if he becomes president he will work toward the democratization of the media and encourage the creation of new radio and television channels, allowing Carlos Slim to compete against television broadcasters, TV Azteca and Televisa.

On Tuesday, during his usual morning press conference, López Obrador said that democratizing media would curb vested interest’s temptation to control advertising and marketing.

He said that it is not necessary to eliminate the system of concessions, or create excessive regulations or censorship, instead, the most efficient way to democratize the media is by avoiding monopolies and promoting free competition.

Clarifying his proposal, López Obrador said, the democatization of media would grant “absolute liberty to all the television channels or radio stations that are technically possible, so that their concentration isn’t only in the hands of the few. Which is currently the case.”

López Obrador said that if Carlos Slim, nationally circulating newspapers, publishing houses or the public want to have an open television channel, they could. He said the purpose of his government is to have more than just two television broadcasters monopolizing audiences.

He said that if Emilio Azcárraga, Ricardo Salinas Pliego or others wish to participate in a telecommunications business, such as a telephone company, they could, because there should not be, under any circumstances, monopolistic practices.

Local and regional radio and television broadcasters, he said, would be encouraged to allow indigenous and rural communities, youth, schools, universities and educational and cultural centers to be involved in these media.

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